H1N1 affected kid's parents in denial

District surveillance officers, meanwhile, are having a tough time as most parents are reluctant to accept the blood test report by the Institute of Preventive Medicine indicating H1N1. Paediatricians as well as health officers are being questioned on the validity of the report.

A senior health officer of Hyderabad said, “A parent refused to accept that his child had swine flu and was very upset that the child had to be isolated. The counsellors, government health workers and also hospital staff had a tough time explaining to the parents that it was important to isolate the child otherwise others would be put at risk. But the father flatly refused, screaming and shouting at everyone.”

While the disease is creating panic, paediatricians are worried about the source of contact for children below five years and feel that a proper investigation by health officers is important to understand what other precautionary measures must be taken.

Senior paediatrician Dr Madan Mohan said, “Parents are scared and are not coming forward with information easily. It is only after constant questioning by counsellors do they reveal that they went out for a party or a social gathering where other children had coughs and colds. This shows that those who are resistant are able to fight the virus, but the vulnerable group is exposed.”

Pediatricians find that most parents are usually in complete denial mode when it comes to H1N1. The virus is not as strong as it was in 2009, but it requires early intervention to ensure that it does not cause complications.

The child is from Bachupally and undergoing treatment at a private hospital.

Others who tested positive for swine flu were a 14-month-old baby from Serlingampally, a man aged 50 years, and two women aged 54 and 28, all from Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts.

District officers said that over the past five days, swine flu cases were being reported daily from Kukatpally and Miyapur.